Oundle School
Sunday, 4th December 2022
Bob Dolby reports: 12 players contested the Challenger at Oundle School, forming four groups of 3 from which eight players emerged to contest the title, while the remaining four played for the Plate along with quarter-final losers. There were six players from Stamford School, whose most experienced player, Chase Burgess, reached the semi-final; Oundle School, Christ’s Hospital and Cambridge University were represented by one player each, Nottingham University by two. Eventually it was our National Ladies Champion, Louise Mathias, who reached the final after a very close semi-final against Chase, while in the other half of the draw Simon Beattie came through. Simon, who is a member of the City of Durham Fives Club, currently playing his Fives with the Derby Moor Club while a student at Nottingham University, proved too strong for Louise in a match that lasted longer and was closer than the eventual score suggests.
The RFA’s thanks go to Ollie Arnold for livestreaming the final, to Alex Smith for running the event, and to Oundle School for hosting us on their immaculate courts.
Scores
Quarter-finals: S Beattie bt L O’Connor 11-0; R Menhart bt C McNaughton 11-8; C Burgess bt C Lacewing 12-10; L Mathias bt H Jones 11-3
Semi-finals: S Beattie bt R Menhart 15-4; L Mathias bt C Burgess 16-14
Final: S Beattie bt L Mathias 15-6
Plate: C Lacewing bt C McNaughton 15-2
Simon and Louise with temporary trophy!